Fertilizer Storage and Handling Assessment

Fertilizers play a vital role in agriculture. Over the years, they have increased farm production dramatically. Commercial fertilizer is, however, a major source of nitrate. Farmstead handling of fertilizers can affect groundwater by allowing nitrate to seep through the ground after a leak or spill.

Nitrate levels in drinking water above federal and state drinking water standards of 10 mg/l NO₃-N can pose a risk to some infants. Infants under 6 months of age are particularly susceptible to health problems from high NO₃-N levels, including the condition known as methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome). Nitrate can also affect adults, but the evidence is much less certain. Young livestock are also particularly susceptible to health problems from high NO₃-N levels. While livestock may be able to tolerate several times the 10 mg/l NO₃-N level, levels of 20-40 mg/l may prove harmful, especially in combination with high levels (1,000 ppm) of nitrate from feed sources.

The goal of ARKANSAS Farm*A*Syst is to help you protect your drinking water supply.

LOW RISK (rank 4)	LOW-MOD RISK (rank 3)	MOD-HIGH RISK (rank 2)	HIGH RISK (rank 1)	YOUR RANK
FERTILIZER STORAGE
• Dry formulation
• Amount stored
None stored at any time.	Less than 1 ton.	Between 1 and 20 tons.	More than 20 tons.
Type of Storage
Covered on hard surface (such as concrete or asphalt). Spills are collected	Covered on clay soil. Spills are collected.	Partially covered on loamy soils. Spills not collected.	Not covered on sandy soils. Spills not collected.
• Liquid formulation
• Amount stored
None stored at any time.	Less than 55 gallons.	Between 55 and 1500 gallons.	More than 1500 gallons.
• Type of Storage
Concrete containment does not allow spill to enter soil.	Clay-lined secondary containment. Most of spill can be recovered.	Somewhat permeable soils (loams). No secondary containment. Most of spill cannot be recovered.	Permeable soil (sand). No secondary containment. Spills enter soil.
• Containers
Original containers clearly labeled. No holes, tears, or weak seams.	Original containers old. Labels partially missing or hard to read.	Containers are old, deteriorating, patched. Metal containers showing signs of rusting.	Containers have holes or tears that allow fertilizers to leak. No labels.
• Security
Fenced or locked area separate from all other activities.	Fenced area separate from most other activities.	Open to activities that could damage containers or spill fertilizer.	Open access to theft, vandalism, and children.

DRY OR LIQUID MIXING AND LOADING PRACTICES
• Location of well in relation to mixing/loading area without a containment pad. (If have containment pad, skip to next section.)
100 or more feet downslope from well.	50 to 100 feet downslope.	10 to 50 feet downslope, or 100 to 500 feet upslope.	Within 10 feet downslope or 100 feet upslope.
LIQUID MIXING AND LOADING PRACTICES
• Mixing and loading pad spill containment
Concrete pad with curb keeps all spills contained and drains to sump.	Concrete pad with curb keeps all spills contained. No sump.	Concrete pad with some cracks keeps most spills contained. No curb or sump.	Concrete pad severely cracked. Spills soak into ground or drain toward well.
• Water Source
Separate water tank.	Hydrant away from well.	Hydrant near well.	Water taken directly from well or surface water.
• Backflow prevention on water supply
Anti-backflow device installed or 6-inch air gap between hose and tank.	Anti-backflow device installed. Hose in tank above waterline.	No anti-backflow device. Hose in tank above waterline.	No anti-backflow device. Hose in tank below waterline.
• Supervision of tank filling
Remain at site until filling is completed.	Remain near site checking on filling frequently.	Leave site for short time and check on filling every few minutes.	Start and leave site and check only when filling period is nearly complete.
• Handling system
Closed system* for all liquid product transfers. *See glossary.	Closed system for most liquids. Some liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach.	All liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port easy to reach.	All liquids hand poured. Sprayer fill port hard to reach.
CLEANUP AND DISPOSAL PRACTICES
• Cleanup and Disposal Practices
Sprayer washed out in field. Rinsate used in next load and applied to labeled crop.	Sprayer washed out on pad at farmstead. Rinsate used in next load and applied to labeled crop.	Sprayer washed out at farmstead. Rinsate sprayed less than 100 feet from well.	Sprayer washed out at farmstead. Rinsate dumped at farmstead or in field.
		RANKINGS TOTAL (Add up numbers in Your Rank Column.)
		# OF AREAS RANKED (13 if ranked all)
		Use these two numbers to calculate risk ranking on next page.

Pictures of chickens, flowers, wheat, a boy looking through a magnifying glass, irrigation pipe, soybean pods, and fruits and vegetables.	Cooperative Extension Service





Cooperative Extension Service	Agricultural Experiment Station
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